Question
Ages of Hawaiian Islands
Island Approximate Age (Millions of Years) Distance from Kilauea (KM)
Hawaii .4 0
Maui 1.32 189
Molokai 1.8 265
Oahu 3 362
Kauai 5.1 533
The Pacific Plate is the single tectonic plate of the Pacific Ocean's floor, and it moves across the layer of Earth called the asthenosphere. Each of the Hawaiian Islands are made up of at least one primary volcano. Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian islands, is made of five volcanoes, including Kilauea, shown on this map. Based on how much lava it erupts annually, Kilauea is currently one of Earth's most productive volcanoes. The island of Hawaii, along with seven other islands, forms an island chain attached to the Pacific Plate, and the Pacific Plate moves northwest about 5 to 10 centimeters every year.
Based on this information and the table shown, which statement best elaborates on the effects of the Pacific Plate on the Hawaiian islands?
Responses
A Due to the increasing number of volcanoes on the islands, movement of the Pacific Plate is slowing over time.Due to the increasing number of volcanoes on the islands, movement of the Pacific Plate is slowing over time.
B Because the islands move along with the movement of the Pacific Plate, the oldest islands are farthest northwest.Because the islands move along with the movement of the Pacific Plate, the oldest islands are farthest northwest.
C The islands are moving closer together as the Pacific Plate moves, causing some volcanoes to form single islands.The islands are moving closer together as the Pacific Plate moves, causing some volcanoes to form single islands.
D Movement of the Pacific Plate across the asthenosphere causes excessive friction, pushing heat up in the form of eruptions.Movement of the Pacific Plate across the asthenosphere causes excessive friction, pushing heat up in the form of eruptions.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The best statement that elaborates on the effects of the Pacific Plate on the Hawaiian islands is:
**B. Because the islands move along with the movement of the Pacific Plate, the oldest islands are farthest northwest.**
This statement accurately describes the relationship between the movement of the Pacific Plate and the formation of the Hawaiian Islands. As the plate moves in a northwest direction, older islands like Kauai and Oahu, which were formed when the plate was situated over the volcanic hotspot, are now found farther northwest compared to the younger islands such as Hawaii and Maui, which are closer to the hotspot.
**B. Because the islands move along with the movement of the Pacific Plate, the oldest islands are farthest northwest.**
This statement accurately describes the relationship between the movement of the Pacific Plate and the formation of the Hawaiian Islands. As the plate moves in a northwest direction, older islands like Kauai and Oahu, which were formed when the plate was situated over the volcanic hotspot, are now found farther northwest compared to the younger islands such as Hawaii and Maui, which are closer to the hotspot.